Carrying Case with Pressure Relief Valve

ABSTRACT

A carrying case made of mating case sections with a principal seal and equipped with a latching device serving as part of a pressure relief valve for opening the interior of the carrying case to the atmosphere. The latch further includes a sealing means in contact with the external edge when the latch is opened to allow passage of air through the opening when the latching device is opened and the sealing means is no longer in contact with the external edge of the opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a carrying case, and in particular,to a carrying case equipped with a latching device serving as part of apressure relief valve and the latch closing opposite mating casesections while scaling the interior of the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carrying cases store and transport different types of goods. Some casesare designed to protect their content from hostile environments inaddition to allowing for the transportation and storage of the goods.For example, thick shell polycarbonate cases can be used to storeelectronic equipment such as phones and BlackBerrys during campingtrips. The protection from humidity and water often requires the use ofseals on the case at junctions of the different surfaces that are openedto access the interior of the case. Some polymer-based seals serve tohermetically or hydraulically seal mating case sections.

Once sealed from the exterior, cases may sometime encounterenvironmental conditions where barometric pressures vary. Sealedcontainers, such as carrying cases with an interior volume at partialvacuum, can be problematic to open. At a full vacuum, external pressuresof up to 15 lbs per square inch must be overcome to open the case. Forexample, if the case is placed in the depressurized baggage compartmentof an airplane for an extended period of time, air in the interior ofthe case, initially at atmospheric pressure, will slowly leak until theinterior reaches equilibrium with the depressurized compartment. Oncethe plane lands, sudden external forces may compress (he seal betweenthe mating case sections and prevent the equilibrium of the internalpressure with the atmosphere. Another example of depressurizationhappens when the internal air is somehow heated and cools once the caseis closed.

Some cases are equipped with tabs to increase the opening leverage,while other cases may be equipped with pressure relief valves toequilibrate pressures. U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,381 describes such a caseequipped with a pressure relief valve placed on the external shell. Thevalve is manually operated. The problem with these types of valves isthe need to create an additional opening in the case, which often servesas a leak path upon failure of the valve. If these valves are left openby the operator, the entire purpose of the sealed case is defeated. Inaddition, if these types of valves are designed with a membrane or otherdynamic segment to seal liquids while allowing the passage of air, thevalves lose much of their efficiency in permanent contact with a liquidor condensed humidity. These valves are also vulnerable to shock and canbe damaged easily if the case is dropped.

What is needed is a case equipped with a pressure relief valve placed ata location protected from shock and capable of sealing both gasses andliquids within the case where the valve cannot be mishandled or left inan inoperative position.

SUMMARY

This invention discloses a carrying case made of mating case sectionswith a principal seal and equipped with a latching device serving aspart of a pressure relief valve for opening the interior of the carryingcase with the atmosphere. The latch further includes a sealing means incontact with the external edge when the latch is opened to allow thepassage of air through the opening when the latching device is openedand the sealing means is no longer in contact with the external edge ofthe opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understoodthat the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements andinstrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the carrying case equipped with a handleaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the carrying case of FIG. 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view as shown along cut line 3-3 on FIG. 2according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view as shown along cut line 4-4 on FIG. 2according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a detail view of the latch and valve mechanism as shown alongcut line 5A-5A on FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5B is a detail view of the latch mechanism as shown along cut line5B-5B on FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a animated detail view of the latch and valve detail view ofFIG. 5A where the latch is in an open orientation according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is not limited to the particular details of thedevice depicted, and other modifications and applications may becontemplated. Further changes may be made in the device described hereinwithout departing from the true spirit of the scope of the disclosure.It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter of the abovedepictions should be interpreted as illustrative, not in a limitingsense.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the carrying case 100 equipped with ahandle 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thecarrying case 100 includes mating case sections 1, 2, connected forrelative movement between open and closed positions. A latch 4, whenclipped open as shown on FIG. 6, allows for the mating case sections 1,2 to open for access to the interior 30. What is shown in FIG. 1 is thecarrying case 100 in the closed position. FIG. 3 shows how a pivot 6molded in a back side of both mating ease sections 1, 2, allows for themating case sections 1, 2 to open when used in tandem with the latch 4opening at a back hinge.

FIG. 3 also shows how the mating case sections 1, 2 can be reinforced byribs 5, 8 or by curved ribs 10, 11 placed on or within a flat surface toreinforce any portion of the carrying case 100. What is disclosed andcontemplated is the use of any built-in structural element, either onthe interior or the exterior surface of the carrying case 100, or theuse of rounded edges created to reinforce the carrying case 100 havingany basic case geometry defining an interior 30. What is also disclosedis the use of any secondary storage, grasping, or manipulation system,such as a handle 3 or a wrist strap (not shown) placed on the exteriorsurface of the carrying case 100.

The carrying case 100 is also equipped with mating case sections 1, 2cooperatively defining a case interior 30. At least one of the matingcase sections 1, 2 also includes an opening 22 as shown in FIG. 5A incommunication with the interior 30. In the preferred embodiment, theopening 22 is a small, circular hole of approximately 1 mm in radiusplaced below the outer peripheral edge of the bottom mating case section2. In FIG. 1, the mating case sections 1, 2 are of rectangular geometrywhere one side is adapted for mating with the other case section at amidheight section. In one preferred embodiment, the case is made ofstrong polycarbonate plastic, and one of the mating case sections 1, 2is transparent to allow visual inspection of the interior 30. While onepossible geometry is shown, what is contemplated is the use of any twomating case sections 1, 2 with mating geometry. The handle 3 as shown isallowed to pivot from a stored position to a perpendicular position (notshown) by lifting the handle manually. In the embodiment shown, thehandle also serves to protect the latch 4.

FIG. 3 is a an elevation view shown along cut line 3-3 on FIG. 2. Aprincipal seal 44 as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 isinterposed between the mating case sections 1, 2 when disposed in theclosed position as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. A latch 4 is connected toone of said mating case sections 1 or 2. In the embodiment shown, topmating case section 1 is connectable in snap-fit relation with one otherof the mating case sections. Snap fitting, as a mode of closure, is onlyone of a plurality of possible methods of closure of the latch 4 overthe mating case sections 1, 2. A snap-fit is achieved using rigid yetslightly deformable structures that are allowed when pushed to snap intoplace. In FIG. 6, a ledge 32 located in a tab 40 is placed in contactwith a lower edge 41 of the rim of the lower mating case section 2. Thelatch 4 is then pushed into a closed position as shown in FIGS. 5A and5B.

In the closed position, the ledge 32 pushes up against the lower edge41, transferring the force needed to snap-fit the latch 4 across thelower edge 41 into a compression force of the first mating case section1 against the second mating case section 2. In the closed position, theledge 32 also pushes forward against the lower edge 41, pulling thelatch 4 as close as possible until a sealing means 24 carried by thelatch 4 seals the opening 22. Air or liquid from the interior 30 of thecase 100 is then blocked by the sealing means 24 from leaking out of thecase 100. What is shown is a latch 4 equipped with a sealing means 24,such as ductile polymeric material in the form of a T. What is alsocontemplated as a sealing means 24 is the use of any material, adhesive,part, element, or brace capable of being installed or fixed on the latch4 and connecting against the external edge of the opening 22 when thelatch is in a closed position. Commonly known examples of reinforcedsnap-fit latches are found in the ski boot technology using V-shapedlatches, strip pulled latches, etc.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the sealing means 24includes a back portion 42 and a ductile front portion 43 projectingfrom latch 24. In FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, what is shown is a dual portionsealing means 24 having an adhesive-free interface illustrated by asmall C-shaped portion between the back portion 42 and the ductile frontportion 43 by a process such as overmolding where the ductile frontportion 43 is molded over the back portion 42. While the preferredembodiment shows a sealing means 24 with a dual portion, what iscontemplated is the use of a single material sealing means 24, the useof a small seal placed inside the body of the latch 4, or a system wherethe latch 4 includes a small portion that comes into contact with a sealglued onto the bottom mating case section 2 to close an opening in thesealing means.

The case 100 also includes an inner liner 20 made in the shape of thebottom mating case section 2 covering the internal surface of the bottommating case section 2. The principal seal 44 is made at the upper edgeof said liner 20. The liner 20 includes an aperture 21 aligned with theopening 22 in the bottom mating case section 2 as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B,and 6. The structure shown in FIG. 3 also discloses support feet 12located at the outer edges of the external surface of the bottom matingcase section 2 for placing the case 100 on a flat surface. The liner 20is also housed completely at its upper end as the principal seal 44inside of a groove 45 made on the external edge of the bottom matingcase section 2. The height of the inner lip 29 of the groove 45 allowsfor the placement of the principal seal 44 on top of the lip 29 so theupper surface of the principal seal 44 remains above external edge 46.The principal seal 44 is then allowed to rest against the inner surface28 of the top mating case section 1. In FIG. 6, double ended arrows 50,60 demonstrate the possible flow of air from within the carrying case100 to the exterior when the latch 4 is lifted and the sealing means 24is no longer in contact with the opening 22.

What is disclosed is a carrying case 100 with mating case sections 1, 2,connected for relative movement between open and closed positions. Themating case sections 1, 2, cooperatively define a case interior 20 whendisposed ill the closed position as shown FIG. 1. The principal seal 44interposed between the mating case sections 1, 2, when disposed in theclosed position, seals the interior 20 at a mating interface of themating case sections 1, 2. A pressure release valve shown in the latch4, when used in association with the bottom mating case section 2,includes an opening 22 in one of the case sections 1, 2 and a resilientseal 24 movable between a sealed configuration in contact with theopening 22 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and an open configuration distantfrom die opening 22.

While specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification, the invention is notlimited to the exact construction shown and described. Variations in theconstruction and arrangement of parts and components are possiblewithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theclaims.

1. A carrying case comprising: mating case sections connected forrelative movement between open and closed positions, said mating casesections cooperatively defining a case interior when disposed in theclosed position, at least one of the mating case sections having anopening in communication with the interior a principal seal interposedbetween the mating case sections when disposed in the closed position; alatch connected to one of said mating case sections and connectable insnap-fit relation with one other of the mating case sections; andscaling means carried by the latch to seal the opening when the latch isconnected to said one other of said mating case sections, wherein thesealing means includes a back portion and a ductile front portionprojecting from said latch.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The carrying case of claim1, said sealing means having an adhesive-free interface between the backportion and the ductile front portion by overmolding of the ductilefront portion over the back portion.
 4. The carrying case of claim 1,further comprising an inner liner, and a principal seal comprising anupper edge of the liner.
 5. The carrying case of claim 4, wherein theliner includes an aperture aligned with the opening.
 6. A carrying casecomprising: mating case sections connected for relative movement betweenopen and closed positions, said mating case sections cooperativelydefining a case interior when disposed in the closed position; aprincipal seal interposed between the mating case sections when disposedin the closed position to seal the interior at a mating interface of themating case sections; and a pressure release valve including an openingin one of the case sections and a resilient seal movable between asealed configuration in contact with the opening and an openconfiguration distant from the opening, and a single piece latch with athrough bore, the through bore filled by the resilient seal, the singlepiece latch connected to one of the mating case sections and having aconnectable edge in snap-fit relation with the other of the mating casesections.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The carrying case of claim 6, wherein theresilient seal includes a resilient back portion and a ductile frontportion in sealable contact with the opening when the pressure reliefvalve is in the sealed configuration.
 9. The carrying case of claim 6,wherein the ductile front portion is overmolded to the back portion. 10.The carrying ease of claim 6, further comprising an inner liner havingan aperture aligned with the opening and having upper edge acting as theprincipal seal.
 11. A carrying case comprising: mating case sectionsconnected for relative movement between open and closed positions, saidmating case sections cooperatively defining a case interior whendisposed in the closed position; a principal seal interposed between themating case sections when disposed in the closed position to seal theinterior at a mating interface of the mating case sections; and apressure release valve including an opening in one of the case sectionsand a resilient seal movable between a sealed configuration in contactwith the opening and an open configuration distant from the opening, anda single piece latch with an internal face and an external face wherethe resilient seal is in contact with the internal face and the externalface, the single piece latch connected to one of the mating casesections and having a connectable edge in snap-fit relation with theother of the mating case sections.
 12. The carrying case of claim 11,wherein the portion of the resilient seal in contact with the internalface includes a lip resting on the internal face.
 13. The carrying caseof claim 12, wherein the resilient seal includes a resilient backportion and a ductile front portion in sealable contact with the openingand in contact with the lip when the pressure relief valve is in thesealed configuration.
 14. The carrying case of claim 11, wherein theductile front portion is overmolded to the back portion.
 15. Thecarrying ease of claim 11, further comprising an inner liner having anaperture aligned with the opening and having upper edge acting as theprincipal seal.